Computer-implemented system and method for building cluster spine groups

Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method for building spine groups is provided. Cluster spines, each having two or more clusters, are displayed. One or more candidate anchor clusters are identified for each of the cluster spines. Additional cluster spines are placed into the display by selecting one of the additional cluster spines and identifying one of the displayed cluster spines that is most similar to the selected additional cluster spine. A spine group is formed by grafting one of the clusters on the additional cluster spine to one of the candidate anchor clusters of the most similar cluster spine. An angle of the selected additional cluster spine is changed when the most similar cluster spine and the selected additional cluster spine exceed a maximum line segment.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A computer-implemented system for building spine groups, comprising the steps of:
 a display to display cluster spines, each comprising two or more clusters; 
 an identification module to identify one or more candidate anchor clusters on each of the cluster spines; and 
 a placement module to place additional cluster spines into the display, comprising:
 a selection submodule to select one of the additional cluster spines and identifying one of the displayed cluster spines that is most similar to the selected additional cluster spine; 
 a formation submodule to form a spine group by grafting one of the clusters on the additional cluster spine to one of the candidate anchor clusters of the most similar cluster spine; and 
 a placement submodule to change an angle of the selected additional cluster spine when the most similar cluster spine and the selected additional cluster spine exceed a maximum line segment. 
 
 
     
     
       2. A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an arrangement module to arrange the spine group and other spine groups, as a set of spine groups, in the display, comprising:
 an a spine group identification module to identify one or more of the spines groups from the set that are unique from the other spine groups; and 
 a spine group placement module to place the unique spine groups around a circle defined in a center of the display. 
 
 
     
     
       3. A system according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a remaining group placement module to place the remaining spine groups in the set in relation to the unique spine groups. 
 
     
     
       4. A system according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 an adjustment module to adjust a position of one or more of the unique spine groups within the display based on the placed remaining spine groups. 
 
     
     
       5. A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a similarity determination module to determine a similarity between the selected additional cluster spine and the most similar displayed cluster spine based on one of a maximum, minimum, and median similarity bound. 
 
     
     
       6. A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a further selection module to select a further one of the additional cluster spines; 
 a comparison module to compare the further additional cluster spine with the displayed cluster spines; and 
 a seed determination module to designate the further additional cluster spine as seed for a further spine group when the further additional cluster spine fails to satisfy a predetermined similarity with each of the displayed cluster spines. 
 
     
     
       7. A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a further selection module to select a further one of the additional cluster spines; 
 a comparison module to compare the further additional cluster spine with the displayed cluster spines; 
 a similarity module to identify one of the displayed cluster spines as most similar to the further additional cluster spine; 
 a grafting attempt module to attempt to graft the further additional cluster spine to an anchor cluster of the displayed cluster spine most similar to the further additional cluster spine; and 
 a grafting selection module to select the next most similar displayed cluster spine for grafting when the graft attempt is unsuccessful. 
 
     
     
       8. A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an anchor cluster identification module to identify one or more anchor clusters on the selected additional cluster spine for grafting with one or more further additional cluster spines. 
 
     
     
       9. A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the maximum line segment comprises a predetermined number of clusters. 
     
     
       10. A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an anchor cluster selection module to select the candidate anchor cluster to which the identified cluster on the additional cluster spine is grafted, comprising:
 a similarity module to determine a similarity between the identified cluster and each of the candidate anchor clusters; and 
 an anchor cluster identification module to identify the selected candidate anchor cluster as most similar to the identified cluster. 
 
 
     
     
       11. A computer-implemented method for building spine groups, comprising the steps of:
 displaying cluster spines, each comprising two or more clusters, in a display; 
 identifying one or more candidate anchor clusters on each of the cluster spines; and 
 placing additional cluster spines into the display, comprising:
 selecting one of the additional cluster spines and identifying one of the displayed cluster spines that is most similar to the selected additional cluster spine; 
 forming a spine group by grafting one of the clusters on the additional cluster spine to one of the candidate anchor clusters of the most similar cluster spine; and 
 changing an angle of the selected additional cluster spine when the most similar cluster spine and the selected additional cluster spine exceed a maximum line segment. 
 
 
     
     
       12. A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 arranging the spine group and other spine groups, as a set of spine groups, in the display, comprising:
 identify one or more of the spines groups from the set that are unique from the other spine groups; and 
 placing the unique spine groups around a circle defined in a center of the display. 
 
 
     
     
       13. A method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 placing the remaining spine groups in the set in relation to the unique spine groups. 
 
     
     
       14. A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 adjusting a position of one or more of the unique spine groups within the display based on the placed remaining spine groups. 
 
     
     
       15. A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 determining a similarity between the selected additional cluster spine and the most similar displayed cluster spine based on one of a maximum, minimum, and median similarity bound. 
 
     
     
       16. A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 selecting a further one of the additional cluster spines; 
 comparing the further additional cluster spine with the displayed cluster spines; and 
 designating the further additional cluster spine as seed for a further spine group when the further additional cluster spine fails to satisfy a predetermined similarity with each of the displayed cluster spines. 
 
     
     
       17. A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 selecting a further one of the additional cluster spines; 
 comparing the further additional cluster spine with the displayed cluster spines; 
 identifying one of the displayed cluster spines as a most similar cluster spine to the further additional cluster spine; 
 attempting to graft the further additional cluster spine to an anchor cluster of the displayed cluster spine most similar to the further additional cluster spine; and 
 selecting the next most similar displayed cluster spine for grafting when the graft attempt is unsuccessful. 
 
     
     
       18. A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 identifying one or more anchor clusters on the selected additional cluster spine for grafting with one or more further additional cluster spines. 
 
     
     
       19. A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the maximum line segment comprises a predetermined number of clusters. 
     
     
       20. A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 selecting the candidate anchor cluster to which the identified cluster on the additional cluster spine is grafted, comprising:
 determining a similarity between the identified cluster and each of the candidate anchor clusters; and 
 identifying the selected candidate anchor cluster as most similar to the identified cluster.